WFU in the news: Dec. 18-31, 2023

FEATURED NEWS

How often do you lie?
Inside Higher Ed: Academic Minute
On the Academic Minute, philosophy professor Christian B. Miller explains why a small group of people may lie more than others. “Lying seems to happen rarely for many people, even toward strangers and even via social media and texting. Where people need to be especially discerning, though, is in identifying – and avoiding – the small number of rampant liars out there.” – 12/19/2023

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Jeff Bezos says this is the most important quality for success. In 2023, scientists finally figured out how to teach it
By Jessica Stillman | Inc.
A Wake Forest University team is working on developing an online course to teach intellectual humility. If you’re keen to make yourself a little smarter and more successful in 2024, science has now given you a few good places to start. – 12/27/2023

Neil DeVotta on the executive presidency, majoritarianism and the state of democracy
Groundviews
Politics and international affairs professor Neil DeVotta has written extensively on Sri Lankan politics and society. For this Q&A, he spoke to Groundviews on the need for elections, the damage done by the executive presidency and majoritarianism, why the aragalaya could not deliver systemic change and the state of democracy. – 12/28/2023

Do you need closure?
By Angela Duckworth, Mike Maughan | Freakonomics
In this episode of “No Stupid Questions,” Angela Duckworth references psychology professor E.J. Mascicampo’s research looking at whether unfulfilled goals persist in our mind until they are fulfilled and then they exit. – 12/20/2023

Presidential debates weren’t always freak shows
By Jeff Jacoby | The Boston Globe
During a debate in 2000, Wake Forest University, Bush and Gore not only gave intelligent answers to the questions posed, they repeatedly pointed to the common ground they shared. – 12/20/2023

We need more freedom of speech on campus, but that can’t include advocating for genocide
By Mark Berkson | Minnesota Reformer
Sociologist Catherine Harnois showed if it’s legally protected speech, then it should be protected speech on campus — can present a compelling alternative to limiting speech based on what upsets or offends (an approach that makes it a matter of “us against the purveyors of hate”). Harnois argues that “campus speech codes that limit speech and expression beyond what the Constitution allows are typically written in ways that are very vague.” – 12/22/2023

Christian nationalism & its threats to religious freedom
By Ginny Baxter | Patheos
Melissa Rogers, visiting professor at Wake Forest University School of Divinity, said, “Christian nationalism perverts the gospel and the Constitution. As Christians, we pledge to confront this false teaching within our communities. As Americans, we pledge to insist on equal justice and liberty for all.” – 12/20/2023

New ingredient uses vegetable peels & trims for blended burgers
By Anay Mridul | Green Queen
The Spare Food Co.’s new ingredient is specifically made for foodservice and catering operators, who can use the ready-to-eat ingredient in multiple ways. One of its early adopters is the Harvest Table Culinary Group, a college caterer that’s expanding its existing partnership with The Spare Food Co. to include the starter across its entire network of campuses, including Wake Forest University. – 12/20/2023

REGIONAL & TRADE

Q&A: Artificial intelligence in the law school classroom and beyond
By Pamela S. Park | Westlaw Today
Thomson Reuters asked law professor Raina Haque to discuss how law schools are using and addressing AI in the classroom and what they are teaching students about the use of the evolving technology in the legal profession. “To law students and those contemplating a legal career, I would emphasize that change is inevitable in any field. While AI will undoubtedly transform legal practice, it also presents exciting opportunities.” – 12/22/2023

New charter school to focus on foreign languages
By Guy Lucas | High Point Enterprise
A proposed language-immersion charter school initially focused on Chinese and Spanish has gained state approval. Chaowei Zhu, the chairman of the charter school’s board and Wake Forest University assistant dean for global initiatives, has been involved with language-immersion schools in Charlotte and South Carolina, but he told the review board he left those in part because he wanted to try some things that those schools were not doing. “I have ideas,” he said. “I have some better models.” – 12/21/2023

LOCAL

New FAFSA forms aim to make college applications easier
WGHP-TV (High Point, NC)
Financial Aid Director Tom Benza addresses questions about the new free application FAFSA form. “This is a better FAFSA for a better future, and it’s intended to simplify students’ ability to submit the application,” he said. – 12/28/2023

How artificial intelligence is transforming higher education
WFMY-TV (Greensboro, NC)
Improving the educational experience of students is a top priority for Betsy Barre. As the executive director of the Center for Advancement of Teaching at Wake Forest, she works to find innovative teaching practices for faculty. Her latest project is how to address the use of artificial intelligence. – 12/18/2023

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to perform at Secrest Series
Winston-Salem Journal
On Tuesday, Jan. 30, the Secrest Artists Series will host the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in Wait Chapel. The program will include works by Claude Debussy, Sergei Prokofiev and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Vasily Petrenko will be conducting. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is at the forefront of music-making in the United Kingdom and internationally, performing approximately 200 concerts each season with a worldwide audience of more than half-a-million people. – 12/18/2023